My Dangerous Duke (The Twisted Dukes #2)

Chapter 23

E leanor had not quite understood what Xander had meant when he commanded that she accept every part as truth, but now she did.

Her father blackmailing someone to gain power made sense. Xander obeying the blackmail to save his cousin Richard made sense. But their feelings, and how they grew for one another despite their situation, did not make sense. And yet, it was as true as everything else he said.

She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch that he loved her; but the pain of his secrets kept her from accepting it. Not just his secrets, but his need to control everything by himself. He was a man apart; isolated, in order to keep a firm grip on everything and everyone around him. And Eleanor was not one to allow such a tight hold.

“Eleanor,” Xander pleaded, his hand on hers on the cushion between them, “Love, please, say something.”

Eleanor stirred from her thoughts, pulling her attention back to Xander. Xander, who once stood proud, cruelly handsome, and untouchable, was now wet and bedraggled from the storm, still looking unbelievably handsome despite the look of desperation in his eyes. The desperate need to be touched. Comforted. It was a look she had once given him.

“I will not continue this way,” she replied at last.

She did not move her hand from his, but her soft gaze hardened, so he understood the brevity of her words.

“If you and I are indeed going to have a real marriage, then this- your need for control, especially over me, stops now. I do not care what you think my best interest is, you must be truthful with me at all times so that I may decide for myself. I am not some delicate pet in need of a guided cage,” she went on, her fury resurfacing, “I am a woman capable of action and thought, and I will not stay married to a man who does not wholly believe that.”

She paused, a hint of sadness taking over.

“No matter how much I love you.”

“You are that and so much more,” Xander agreed, his tone vehement as he inched closer, “And you are right, regarding my control issues. I thought I needed a tight grip or else I would fail everyone. I know now that that grip has caused terrible pain. Not just for you, but for my family. It is a flaw I eagerly yearn to correct.”

He came closer, his hand curving around her neck, and Eleanor allowed it. His touch sent sparks into the veins beneath his fingertips, and her pulse quickened with desire.

“I would hope,” he continued, his deep voice level and honest, “that you would be willing to reside with me until such a feat is accomplished. However, if it is not something you wish, I will not fight it. I have homes in London, the countryside in Bath, and an estate in the French countryside, and you are welcome to stay in any of them until you trust me. Or here, anywhere you wish. I only ask that you not go back to your father or your sister. They will hurt you, Eleanor, and you cannot ask me to allow that.”

Appreciation swept through Eleanor as she listened to Xander’s words. He had not given up all control, obviously, but his only demand was that she not take herself back to the people who hurt her in the first place. He was offering her safety as well as space, if that was what she needed, and that spoke volumes to her.

“And your cousin?” She asked, allowing her body to move closer to his.

Xander nodded, almost looking relieved.

“Richard shall be free to do as he wishes,” Xander conceded, “His life is now his own, as are his consequences.”

Eleanor nodded, feeling the tension leave her body as she heard Xander relinquish the responsibility. She did not particularly know or care for Richard, but she knew that some of the spite he harbored toward her was because of Xander’s tight grip on him. Perhaps now, with time, they could find steady ground.

“And you will allow me to take care of my father,” she pressed on, sliding herself into his lap.

Xander’s eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously as his hands immediately came to her waist, pulling her closer.

“Honey, I do not think-”

Eleanor gave him a threatening look, and his sentence died on his tongue. He appeared to struggle internally for a moment, but then nodded and met her eyes again.

“Please continue,” he said, if not a little begrudgingly.

A sense of power and pleasure rose in Eleanor as she saw her husband bow to her will, and before she said anything else, she pressed her hand to his jaw and kissed him passionately.

“Such a good husband you are,” she crooned, pulling away from the long kiss to feather smaller ones on his lips and jaw.

Xander groaned deeply at her praise, and beneath her, she felt his cock stir to full rigidity. Then, almost embarrassed, his cheeks flushed and he cleared his throat.

“No one has ever spoken to me like that before,” he admitted, his voice thick.

“And?” Eleanor asked, her smile growing as she loosened the sodden cravat at his neck.

“And I am a little unnerved by how much I enjoyed it,” he confessed, his hands going to the ties of her dress.

Eleanor laughed seductively, her heartache and rage melting away as they began peeling one another’s clothes away one piece at a time.

“So, I will handle my father,” Eleanor purred, thrusting her fingers into Xander’s hair as he pressed a hand to her throat once more and ran his tongue down her neck.

“You will handle your father,” Xander replied obediently, his other hand pulling away her undone dress as his mouth continued to worship her neck.

“And you will help me,” Eleanor murmured, dragging Xander’s wet trousers down his hips.

“And I will help you,” he agreed.

He had soaked her through the moment he had first hugged her, but she had been numb to it. Now, she could not wait to get the heavy, drenched fabrics away from them, to free their cold, wet flesh and warm one another in a most feral way. With the last of their clothes gone, Xander picked up Eleanor’s naked body only to lay her down before the fireplace on the fur rug.

“I hope Penelope and Rhysand do not come in,” Eleanor whispered, her voice bright with mischief and laughter.

She then sighed in pleasure as Xander brought his weight down on her, settling over deliciously so that she could still feel all of him but still breathe.

“They already hate me,” Xander chuckled hoarsely, his lips trailing down her chest, “Might as well give them one more reason.”

At that, Xander’s mouth clamped down on her right breast, and Eleanor let out a high-pitched gasp. Her back arched as her head pushed itself back into the pillows, and her hand gripped tufts of his hair tightly; keeping him there.

“I will apologize to Penny later,” Eleanor breathed, then wrenched Xander’s head up to hers and kissed him deeply.